The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 104: Morning Troubles

Jessamyn woke up in the morning and stretched herself. She remembered sleeping with the windows closed, but the windows were open. The sun was just above the horizon and the sky was turning bright.

The trees blocked almost all the sunlight, allowing the gentle morning breeze to carry the sweet scent of wildflowers inside the room.

Jessamyn walked to the corner where one candle was burning while stretching. She had a good sleep even though she slept the whole afternoon. She’s getting a lot tired these days probably because she wasn’t doing anything productive.

"I am turning lazy..." she muttered suppressing a yawn. She got alert as something didn’t look right. "Ahh!" she screamed seeing the dark figure curled up on the sofa.

It was Jerrick.

Even her scream didn’t wake him up and he was sleeping deeply. Patting her chest, she composed herself.

Did he get in through the window?

She couldn’t recall if she had locked the windows, but she was certain the door was securely locked from the inside. Although she felt nervous about sleeping alone, she found some comfort in knowing the door was locked. However, she realized it was a bit foolish to secure the door but forget the windows, as any real threat would come from outside, not from Jerrick.

I’m turning dumber each day...

With a sigh, she got closer to him. He was curled on the sofa, which was too small to hold his majestic frame. His legs were tucked up awkwardly, one arm draped over his face as if to shield himself from the world. She watched him for a moment, her heart softening at the sight of him trying to find comfort in such a cramped space.

She took a step forward, her first instinct to wake him up and ask him to take the bed. But then she stopped.

Jerrick is a man. She was married to a man before, and usually in the mornings, when she found him curled up like this, almost every time, he would pull her into his embrace and...

Joar said it was natural for a man to want the warmth of the woman in the morning since his body craved for it—that men were built that way.

What would she know? She never was a man before. She leaned toward believing him, mostly because she loved those sudden attacks that swept her off the floor and made her swoon in his embrace.

Ah... I miss his warmth...

Jessamyn cleared her throat. She needed to get off her daydreaming. She didn’t want to burn in desire the entire day knowing that she couldn’t quench the thirst burning in her core.

Maybe I should visit a doctor and get treated for female hysteria... But... Joar’s pelvic massages were so...

A warm sigh escaped her mouth and she rubbed her neck as her body warmed up to the memories of Joar’s touches.

She shook her head to get out those memories. She shouldn’t lose herself in her memories. Her body was still warm but she steeled her heart not to give in to her desires.

But a voice rang in her head, offering her sly advice with the promise of solace.

You have a man here... Why don’t you try him to satiate your hunger? Isn’t he going to be your husband? You’ve already slept with him. It’s not even wrong.

Jessamyn wetted her lips and observed him. He was covering his face with his forearm and his lips were uncovered. She could see his prominent Adam’s apple and memories of his firm chest flooded her, turning her on.

NO!

She screamed silently in her mind. Usually, this feeling only consumed her when she locked eyes with him, but now, without even meeting his gaze, she felt like her insides were on fire.

How shameless! Disloyal! Joar will be rolling in his grave.

She decided to leave the room. If he found comfort in that small sofa, who was she to deny him the comfort and disturb his slumber?

She almost walked to the door, but she stopped as she remembered the pain that affected him through the journey. If he lay curled up like that, he would end up with pain in his leg.

Jessamyn took in a deep breath. It was not about her and her perverted thoughts. It was about the wellbeing of Jerrick.

Quietly, she reached out and gently touched his shoulder. "Jerrick," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You should come to bed. The sofa is too small for you."

She decided to punch him on the face if he tried anything with her.

He stirred, slowly removing his arm from his face and blinking at her. He must have been deeply asleep; she noticed the imprints of his sleeves on his face. "I’m fine," he murmured, though his body protested with every movement. He tried to smile at her but he couldn’t keep his eyes open.

She shook her head. "No, you’re not. Come on. The bed is free."

After a moment of hesitation, Jerrick nodded and slowly rose from the sofa, his muscles stiff and aching. She took his hand and led him to the bed.

After settling him on the bed, she walked out of the room. Closing the door, she ended up chuckling thinking about herself.

She didn’t know what else to do. She had cried enough and she had no tears left anymore. She felt trapped and free at the same time.

She didn’t want to dwell on those thoughts and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He prepared dinner for them both and she thought it was only right to cook breakfast.

After finishing cooking breakfast, she checked on him and he was still asleep. Since she wanted to change, she went to the bathroom. She was in love with the bathtub and wanted to have a look at it again.

He had changed the bathwater. Since there was nothing else to do, she took a long bath and enjoyed it.

After changing into a morning gown, she brought breakfast to the bedroom where Jerrick was still asleep. When she went there, he was just awake, stretching as he looked out at the window.

He was a feast to look at. He had aged like fine wine and in the sunlight, he looked delicious.

"Breakfast," she smiled.

"You cooked..." Jerrick smiled. There was no surprise on his face just delight. "Let’s taste your cooking..." He rubbed his hands together.

Jessamyn’s heart skipped a beat. This was the first time she cooked for him. Will he like it?